Tube clamp device and tube connection device

ABSTRACT

A tube clamp apparatus and a tube connecting apparatus having high durability and improved operability when an operator locks these apparatuses are provided. A tube connecting apparatus comprises a first clamp and a second clamp, each pressing to hold two flexible tubes  8, 9 . The tubes are placed at a lower jaw portion of the second clamp and pressed to a flat state by pressing force applied thereto a direction of an arrow A. A hook section  310  having hook portions divided into plural pieces is set up at an upper jaw portion of the second clamp, and the hook portion B  312  is made of a POM elastic member having, on one side thereof, a protruded portion  314  protruded from other adjacent hook portions. When pressing force is applied to the upper jaw portion, the hook portion B  312  protruded from the other adjacent hook portions is elastically deformed and engaged with a POM-made roller B  317  to prevent back-tracking of the hook section  310.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tube clamp apparatus and a tubeconnecting apparatus, and in particular relates to a tube clampapparatus which presses to hold a flexible tube in a flat state and atube connecting apparatus which connects flexible tubes each other.

DESCRIPTON OF RELATED ART

Conventionally, in a case that tube connecting between ablood-collecting bag and a blood-component bag in a blood transfusionsystem, exchanging between a dialytic-fluid bag and a waste-fluid bag incontinuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or the like is carriedout, it is necessary to connect tubes under a sterilized condition. Forexample, in JPB 61-30582, a tube connecting apparatus equipped with apair of holders capable of holding two tubes to be connected in paralleland a cutting plate (plate-shaped heater element, wafer) capable ofmoving across the tubes which are placed between both of the holders isdisclosed. In this tube connecting apparatus, the cutting plate isheated and moved to melt and cut the tubes in a state that the two tubesare held in parallel and in an opposite direction in grooves which areformed at the holders, then, one of the holders is moved in a diameterdirection (row direction) of the tubes to coincide cut ends of the tubesto be connected each other, and the cutting plate is extracted by movingit to an evacuated position to fuse both of the tubes.

Further, for example, in JPA 6-91010, a tube connecting apparatus whichemploys the same tube connecting method as the above apparatus, whichhas a first clamp and a second clamp which hold two tubes in a parallelstate, and which moves the first clamp in parallel to the second clamp,in order to improve reliability of tube connecting, is disclosed. Thetube connecting apparatus has a first clamp movement mechanism thatcarries out merely forward or backward movement for advancing orretracting the first clamp, and a second clamp movement mechanism thatmoves the second clamp merely in a direction that the second clampapproaches/separates to/from the first clamp.

Furthermore, for example, in JPA 4-308731, a tube connecting apparatus,which employs the same principle of heating, melting and then connectingthe tubes each other under a sterilized condition by utilizing a cuttingplate, yet which connects the tubes in a state that liquid in the tubesis kept contained without leaking the liquid even in a case that theliquid remains inside the tubes before the tubes are cut, is disclosed.In this tube connecting apparatus, two tubes (a first tube, a secondtube) are held on the same rotation locus respectively according to apair of tube holders allowed to rotate relatively, after the two tubesare cut between the holders by a heated cutting plate, the tube holdersare rotated such that a cut end face of one end side of the first tubealigns (corresponds to) a cut end face of another side of the secondtube, and the cutting plate is evacuated to fuse both of the tubes.Moreover, for example, in JPA 9-154920, a tube connecting apparatuswhich is capable of not only connecting tubes in a state that liquidinside the tubes is kept contained and sealed without leaking the liquidbut which can realize downsizing of the apparatus and of parts for theapparatus due to a small moving amount of the tubes at the time ofconnecting the tubes, is disclosed. In this tube connecting apparatus,two tubes to be connected are accommodated and held in two tube-holdingassembly (a first tube-holding assembly, a second tube-holding assembly)in a contacted (piled) state with each other, after the two tubes arecut by a heated cutting plate, the second tube-holding assembly isrotated by 180 degrees relatively to the first tube-holding assemblysuch that cut end faces of the tubes are replaced with each other foralignment, and the cutting plate is evacuated to fuse both of the tubes.

In these conventional tube connecting apparatuses, because a cover, acovering body or the like of the clamp(s) for holding the tubes in apressing state opens unexpectedly during connecting operation of thetubes, fixing of the tubes or pressing behavior of the clamp(s) to thetubes is canceled, which leads cutting or connecting operation to thetubes incomplete. For this reason, the tube connecting apparatusdisclosed in the JPA 9-154920 has a pawl member formed to protrude at aninternal surface of a plate piece which is provided pivotably with ahinge to the covering body at a tip of the covering body in thetube-holding assemblies, and a locking mechanism which locks (holds) thecovering body so as not to open by rotating the plate piece in a statethat the covering body is closed to engage the pawl member with aportion to be engaged formed at a tip of a holder at which the tubes areplaced.

In such a locking mechanism, in general, such a device is made that ahook member such as a pawl member or the like and an engagement memberfor engaging the hook member are made of metal having high rigidity,that a protrusion is formed at a tip portion of the hook member, orthat, by employing the both, holding power to the covering body is madelarger so as the covering body not to open due to unexpectedback-tracking of the hook member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention)

The conventional tube connecting apparatuses can maintain holding powerby employing the above stated structures, but they request an operatorlarge pressing force (load) at a time of locking the covering body so asthe covering body not to open with a hook member, which loweredoperability or work efficiency remarkably. Further, because the hookmember and the engagement member are made of metal having high rigidity,abrasion is caused (parts are worn away) at a time of engagementoperation therebetween. This weakens locking power (power formaintaining pressing state against the tube(s)) between the both,depending that the mechanism is going on use, consequently, there was acase that the mechanism had a difficulty in maintaining pressing forceagainst the tube(s) in a proper flat state.

In view of the above circumstances, a problem to be solved by thepresent invention is to provide a tube clamp apparatus which has highdurability and of which operability is improved when an operator locksthe apparatus and a tube connecting apparatus equipped with the tubeclamp apparatus.

(Means for Solving the Problem)

In order to solve the above problem, a first aspect of the presentinvention is directed to a tube clamp apparatus which presses to hold aflexible tube in a flat state, comprising: a placement clamp section atwhich the tube is placed; a movable clamp section which is movable in adirection of pressing the tube which is placed at the placement clampsection and in a direction of separating from the tube; and a hooksection which is set up at the movable clamp section and which engagesthe placement clamp section to maintain a pressing state of the movableclamp section against the tube, wherein the hook section has a pluralityof divided hook portions, and wherein at least one of the hook portionshas a protruded portion which protrudes toward one side thereof thanother hook portions and is made of an elastic member which maintainsengagement with the placement clamp section.

In the first aspect, the flexible tube is placed at the placement clampsection, and the tube is pressed to a flat state according to pressingforce to the movable clamp section applied in a direction of pressingthe tube. The hook section having a plurality of divided hook portionsis set up at the movable clamp section, and at least one of the hookportions is constituted by an elastic member having a protruded portionwhich protrudes toward one side thereof than other hook portions. Whenpressing force is applied to the movable clamp section, the elasticmember which protrudes than the other hook portions deforms elasticallyto engage the placement clamp section together with the other hookportions, and the protruded portion of the elastic member maintainsengagement with the movable clamp section to prevent the hook sectionfrom back-tracking, thereby a pressing state against the tube ismaintained. On the other hand, when force in a direction opposite to thepressing force is applied in a direction of separating from the tube tothe movable clamp section, the elastic member deforms elastically tocancel engagement with the placement clamp section, thereby the pressingstate against the tube is canceled. According to the first aspect,because the elastic member deforms elastically and the protruded portionengages the movable clamp section, since pressing force applied to themovable clamp can be smaller than that of the conventional tube clampapparatus while maintaining engagement between the placement clampsection and the movable clamp section, operability for an operator canbe enhanced.

In the first aspect, when the elastic member is made of resin having aflexure property of bending so as to change its self-shape according toexternal pressure, because the protruded portion which engages theplacement clamp section is made of resin and the elastic member bends,the elastic member is prevented from being worn away in comparison witha case in which metal members having high rigidity were used for thematerial conventionally and an operator can get off with small pressingforce to the movable clamp section. Accordingly, not only durability ofthe placement clamp section and the hook section is enhanced butdurability of the tube clamp apparatus is improved. Further, when thehook section is divided into plural pieces in a direction orthogonal toa longitudinal direction of the tube placed at the placement clampsection and another side of the elastic member is fixed to the hooksection, the elastic member is provided with spring function toencourage the flexure property. Accordingly, operability and durabilityare more enhanced. At this time, the elastic member may be disposed at acenter of the hook portions which are provided parallel and a materialof the other hook portions may be made of metal. In such an embodiment,when the placement clamp section has an engagement member which engagesthe protruded portion of the elastic member and a material of theengagement member is made of resin, since both of the protruded portionto engage and the engagement member are made of resin to lower the partsbeing worn away, it is preferable in view of enhancing durability.Further, the engagement member may be a rotatable roller, and theprotruded portion of the elastic member may slide to contact acircumferential surface of the roller to be located to an engagementmaintaining position at which the protruded portion maintains engagementwith the roller. In this case, it is preferable in operability anddurability that the elastic member is set such that reaction forcecaused at a time of elastic deformation against external force issmaller than pressing force of the hook portions due to the hook sectionwhen the movable clamp section presses the tube to a flat state and islarger than or equal to load force against the protruded portion of theengagement member.

Further, in order to solve the above problem, a second aspect of thepresent invention is directed to a tube connecting apparatus whichconnects flexible tubes each other, comprising: a holding unit having aplacement clamp section at which the tube is placed, a movable clampsection which is movable in a direction of pressing the tube which isplaced at the placement clamp section and in a direction of separatingfrom the tube, and a hook section which is set up at the movable clampsection and which engages the placement clamp section to maintain apressing state of the movable clamp section against the tube; a cuttingunit which cuts the tubes held in a flat state by the holding unit; anda movement unit which moves the holding unit to change relativelypositions of the tubes cut by the cutting unit such that end portions tobe connected face each other, wherein the holding unit has a pluralityof divided hook portions at the hook section, and wherein at least oneof the hook portions has a protruded portion which protrudes toward oneside thereof than other hook portions and is made of an elastic memberwhich maintains engagement with the placement clamp section.

In the second aspect, the holding unit corresponds to the tube clampapparatus in the first aspect. Namely, the elastic member deformselastically to engage the protruded portion with the placement clampsection, so that the tubes are held in a flat state by the holding unit.The tubes held by the holding unit are cut by the cutting unit, then,the holding unit is driven to move by the movement unit to changerelatively positions of the tubes cut by the cutting unit such that endportions to be connected contact closely each other, thereby the tubesare connected. According to the second aspect, in the same manner as thefirst aspect, since pressing force applied to the movable clamp sectioncan be small, operability for an operator can be enhanced. Further,because parts can be lowered in being worn away at a time of engagementoperation, the holding unit holds the tubes in an appropriate flat stateeven in high frequency of use. Accordingly, cutting and connecting ofthe tubes according to the cutting unit and the movement unit arecarried out properly.

In the second aspect, the holding unit may have a first holding sectionand a second holding section which are disposed along a longitudinaldirection of the tubes placed at the placement clamp section and thecutting unit may cut the tubes between the first holding section and thesecond holding section. Further, the movement unit may move at least oneof the first holding section and the second holding section in adirection of the longitudinal direction of the tubes placed at theplacement clamp section and in a direction orthogonal to the tubes. Atthis time, it is preferable that the elastic member is made of resinhaving a flexure property of bending so as to change its self-shapeaccording to external pressure, and it is more preferable that theelastic member is disposed at a center of the hook portions which areprovided parallel and a material of the other hook portions is made ofmetal.

(Effects of the Invention)

According to the first aspect of the present invention, because theelastic member of the movable clamp deforms elastically to engage theprotruded portion with the movable clamp section, since pressing forceapplied to the movable clamp can be smaller than that of theconventional tube clamp apparatus while maintaining engagement betweenthe placement clamp section and the movable clamp section, an effectthat operability for an operator can be enhanced, can be obtained.

According to the second aspect, in addition to the effect in the firstaspect, because parts can be lowered in being worn away at a time ofengagement operation, since the holding unit holds the tubes in anappropriate flat state even in high frequency of use, an effect thatcutting and connecting of the tubes according to the cutting unit andthe movement unit are carried out properly, can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a tube connecting apparatus inan embodiment to which the present invention is applicable;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing clamps of the tube connectingapparatus;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken plan view of the tube connecting apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a wafer holder;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a drive-conveying mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a revolving plate fitted to a drivingshaft and transmission type sensors;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing showing operation 1 of main portions ofthe tube connecting apparatus and a front view illustratively showing astate that covering bodies of a first clamp and a second clamp begin tobe closed;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing showing operation of the main portionsof the tube connecting apparatus, FIG. 8(A) showing operation 2 and FIG.8(B) showing operation 3;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory drawing showing operation of the main portionsof the tube connecting apparatus, FIG. 9(A) showing operation 4, FIG.9(B) showing operation 5 and FIG. 9(C) showing operation 6;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing evacuation movement of a tube-pushingmember, FIG. 10(A) showing a state just before a tip portion of thetube-pushing member presses tubes to a flat state, FIG. 10(B) showing astate that the tip portion of the tube-pushing member presses the tubesto a flat state, and FIG. 10(C) showing a state that a wafer cuts thetubes held in a flat state;

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state of evacuating the wafer from acutting position by descending a holding member which holds the wafer;

FIG. 12 is a side view in an opened state of a second clamp at which twotubes are placed;

FIG. 13 is a side view showing operation of a locking mechanism of thesecond clamp in which a hook portion B and a roller B are expressed incross section, FIG. 13(A) showing clamping operation 1, FIG. 13(B)showing clamping operation 2 and FIG. 13(C) showing a state that lockingaccording to the locking mechanism is completed;

FIG. 14 is a side view showing operation of the locking mechanism of thesecond clamp, FIG. 14(A) showing the clamping operation 1, FIG. 14(B)showing the clamping operation 2 and FIG. 14(C) showing the state thatlocking according to the locking mechanism is completed;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view around a cam which regulates movementof the second clamp, FIG. 15(A) showing an initial state, FIG. 15(B)showing a state that connection operation is completed, FIG. 15(C)showing a state that a notched portion is opposed to a bearing and FIG.15(D) is a state that the second clamp is moved to an evacuatedposition;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a cam which regulates movement of the firstclamp and a cam which regulates movement of the wafer holder, FIG. 16(A)showing an initial state, FIG. 16(B) showing a state of cuttingoperation and FIG. 16(C) showing a state that cutting is finished andconnecting is started; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing operation of the main portions ofthe tube connecting apparatus in tube connecting process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a tube connectingapparatus that cuts and then connects two tubes in which blood iscontained and sealed and to which the present invention is applied willbe explained.

(Structure)

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a tube connecting apparatus 1 of thepresent embodiment is equipped with a first clamp 6 serving as a tubeclamp apparatus (a first holding section) and a second clamp 7 servingas a tube clamp apparatus (a second holding section), both of which holdtwo flexible tubes 8, 9 approximately in a parallel state, and atube-pushing member 10 which is disposed between the first clamp 6 andsecond clamp 7 and adjacent to the first clamp 6 to press the tubes 8, 9to a flat state. The tube connecting apparatus 1 is accommodated in anunillustrated casing such that protruded members as shown in FIG. 1 arehidden. (See FIG. 3.)

The first clamp 6 has a first lower jaw portion 70, which forms a lowerjaw of the first clamp 6 at which the tubes 8, 9 are placed and whichserves as a placement clamp section, and a first upper jaw portion 50,which forms a upper jaw of the first clamp 6, which is movable in adirection (a direction of an arrow F in FIG. 2) of pressing the tubes 8,9 placed at the first lower jaw portion 70 and in a direction (adirection opposite to the arrow F in FIG. 2) of separating from thetubes 8, 9, which presses the tubes 8, 9 to a flat state and whichserves as a movable clamp section. On the other hand, in the same manneras the first clamp 6, the second clamp 7 also has a second lower jawportion 80 which forms a lower jaw of the second clamp 7 at which thetubes 8, 9 are placed and which serves as a placement clamp section, anda second upper jaw portion 60, which forms a upper jaw of the secondclamp 7, which is movable in a direction (a direction of an arrow F inFIG. 2) of pressing the tubes 8, 9 placed at the second lower jawportion 80 and in a direction (a direction opposite to the arrow F inFIG. 2) of separating from the tubes 8, 9, which presses the tubes 8, 9to a flat state and which serves as a movable clamp section.

The tubes 8, 9 are made of soft resin such as, for example, softpolyvinyl chloride or the like and have flexibility, in which blood iscontained and sealed. These tubes 8, 9 have approximately the same shapewith respect to an inner diameter, an outer diameter and a length in astate before blood is contained and sealed. The first clamp 6 has aholder 21 for holding the tubes 8, 9 as a part of the first lower jawportion 70, and a covering body 24 which is fitted pivotably to a rearend portion of the holder 21 through a hinge 25 for opening and closingas a part of the first upper jaw portion 50.

A pair of grooves 22, 23, which are parallel with each other, of whichcross-section is shaped as a letter U, and into which the two tubes 8, 9are put respectively, are formed in the holder 21. It is preferable thata width of the grooves 22, 23 is set to have the same or a smaller widthas/than a diameter of the tubes 8, 9 in an inartificial state. Anoperator pushes the tubes 8, 9 into inner sides thereof (a downwarddirection in FIG. 2) to put the tubes 8, 9 into the grooves 22, 23. Thecovering body 24, in a closed state, covers the grooves 22, 23 and has afunction for fixing the tubes 8, 9 such that the tubes 8, 9 are putinside the grooves 22, 23 so as not to get rid of the grooves 22, 23.

The first clamp 6 has a locking mechanism for retaining the coveringbody 24 in a closed state. The locking mechanism is constituted by ahook section 300 which is provided at a side of the first upper jawportion 50 and which maintains a pressing state of the first upper jawportion 50 against the tubes 8, 9, and a roller 20 which is provided ata side of the first lower jaw portion 70 to engage and stop the hooksection 300 and which has a latch function.

The hook section 300 has a plate piece 28 which is fixed pivotably to atip of the covering body 24 through a hinge 27, and a pawl member 29which is formed to protrude toward an inner face of the plate piece 28.Incidentally, a shaft 19 which protrudes toward a side of the secondclamp 7 from an end face of the plate piece 28 is fitted to the platepiece 28.

A tip portion of the pawl member 29, namely, a side thereof to engagethe roller 20 is divided into plural members in a direction that thefirst upper jaw portion 50 presses the tubes placed at the first lowerjaw portion 70, in other words, in a direction orthogonal to alongitudinal direction of the tubes 8, 9 placed at the first lower jawportion 70. In this embodiment, the pawl member 29 is disposed so that ahook portion A 301, a hook portion B 302 and a hook portion C 303 arelocated in parallel. An inner side face (a face of a front side in FIG.2) formed by these hook portions is arranged to have an approximately Rshaped coplanar face. The hook portion A 301 and the hook portion C 303are made of a unified material (stainless steel) which is integratedwith a base portion of the pawl member 29.

In the hook portion B 302, which is sandwiched between the hook portionA 301 and the hook portion C 303 and which is disposed at a center ofthe hook portions, an unillustrated protruded portion 304 (the sameshape as the protruded portion 314, See FIG. 12 to FIG. 14.), whichmaintains an engagement state with a roller B 307 that constitutes theroller 20 as stated later and that serves as an engagement member, whichprevents the plate piece 28 locked by the locking mechanism fromback-tracking (a movement in a direction opposite to the arrow F in FIG.2), and which serves as a protruded portion, is formed at one side (atip side) of the hook portion B 302 and an opposite face (rear face)side of an inner face of the hook portion B 302. The hook portion B 302is made long in a direction opposite to tubes 8, 9 placed at the firstlower jaw portion 70 and an end of another side thereof is fixed from aninner face side by a screw 305 so that the hook portion B 302 exhibits afunction of a plate spring due to elastic deformation. In thisembodiment, POM (polyoxymethylene=polyacetal resin) is used as amaterial for the hook portion B 302, and the hook portion B 302 isconstituted by a resin member serving as an elastic member which has aflexure property of bending so as to change its self-shape or havingelasticity according to external pressure.

Accordingly, the pawl member 29 is constituted by the base portion madeof stainless steel, the hook portion A 301, the hook portion C 303, andthe resin made hook portion B 302 having the flexure property and theend of another side thereof is fixed by the screw.

On the other hand, the roller 20 is constituted by a plurality of arotatable roller A 306, a rotatable roller B 307 and a rotatable rollerC 308 into which a shaft is inserted and of which diameters areapproximately equal. The roller B 307 located at a center has a latchfunction for engaging the protruded portion 304 formed at one side ofthe hook portion B 302 and a slide face which is connected with theprotruded portion 304. (See also FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.) A width of theroller B 307 is set almost equal to that of the hook portion B 302. Inthe same manner as the hook portion B 302, the POM is used as a materialfor the roller B 307. The roller A 306 and the roller C 308 adjacent tothe roller B 307 are disposed so as to slide corresponding to the hookportion A 301 and the hook portion C 303 of the pawl member 29,respectively. In this embodiment, a stainless steel is used as amaterial for the roller A 306 and the roller C 308 in the same manner asthe hook portion A 301, and the hook portion C 303.

In this embodiment, in order to secure locking operation according tothe locking mechanism successively (to maintain pressing force to thetubes 8, 9 appropriately), reaction force at a time that the hookportion B 302 bends subject to external pressure, when the covering body24 is closed by an operator to press the tubes 8, 9 to a flat state, isset to be smaller than pressing force that the pawl member 29 (hookportion A 301, hook portion B 302 and hook portion C 303) effects on theroller 20 (roller A 306, roller B 307 and roller C 308). Further,reaction force at a time that the hook portion B 302 bends subject toexternal pressure is set to be larger than or equal to load force of theroller B 307 against the protruded portion B 304. Accordingly, the hookportion B 302, among resins made of the POM, is set such that itsflexure property satisfies the following equation (1).Pressing Force at a time of locking>Reaction Force due to bending >=LoadForce of roller B against protruded portion  (1)

Accordingly, by pivoting the plate piece 28 in a direction of an arrow Fin FIG. 2 to engage the pawl member 29 with the roller 20 in a statethat the covering body 24 is closed, the covering body 24 is locked soas not to open. For this reason, difficulties in cutting and connectingof the tubes are prevented since the covering body 24 is prevented frombeing opened unexpectedly during connecting of the tubes, andaccordingly fixing (holding) to the tubes 8, 9 as well as pressingaccording to the first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 are not canceled.

A tube-pushing member 10 is connected with the first clamp 6 in acontact state at a side of the second clamp 7. The first clamp 6 has asaw-shaped pressure closing member 61 which is fixed to a side face ofthe holder 21, and a saw-shaped pressure closing member 62 which isfixed to a side face of the covering body 24 and which bites thepressure closing member 61 each other. The pressure closing member 61has inclined faces 63, 64 at positions corresponding to the grooves 22,23 respectively, while inclined faces 65, 66, which are parallel to theinclined faces 63, 64 respectively and which are disposed at positionshaving a predetermined distance from the inclined faces 63, 64, areformed at the pressure closing member 62. (See FIG. 11.) Accordingly,when the covering body 24 is closed in a state that the tubes 8, 9 areput in the grooves 22, 23, the tube 8 is pressed by the inclined faces63, 65 and the tube 9 is pressed by the inclined faces 64, 66 since thepressure closing members 61, 62 engage (bite) each other. According tothe structure of the first clamp 6, dislocation (offset) or deformationof the tubes 8, 9 is restrained and easy and proper connection issecured when cut faces of the tubes 8, 9 are connected with each other,which will be stated later.

On the other hand, the second clamp 7 is disposed at a side of the firstclamp 6 and adjacent to the first clamp 6 via the tube-pushing member10. The second clamp 7, in the same manner as the first clamp 6, has aholder 31 at which a pair of grooves 32, 33 are formed and which holdsthe tubes 8, 9, a covering body 34 which pivots to the holder 31 foropening and closing, and a locking mechanism. A structure thereofcorresponds to the first clamp 6. Incidentally, a long hole 40 intowhich the shaft 19 can be inserted is formed at an end face of the platepiece 38 facing a side of the first clamp 6. The long hole 40 has afunction for allowing the shaft 19 to move when the first clamp 6 movesin tube connecting operation as stated later.

A locking mechanism of the second clamp 7 will be explained in detail.The locking mechanism, in the same manner as the locking mechanism ofthe first clamp 6, is constituted by a hook section 310 which isprovided at a side of the second upper jaw portion 60 and whichmaintains a pressing state of the second upper jaw portion 60 againstthe tubes 8, 9, and a roller 30 which is provided at a side of thesecond lower jaw portion 80 to engage and stop the hook section 310 andwhich has a latch function.

The hook section 310 has a plate piece 38 which is fixed pivotably to atip of the covering body 34 through a hinge 37, and a pawl member 39which is formed to protrude toward an inner face of the plate piece 38.A tip portion of the pawl member 39 is divided into plural members alonga longitudinal direction of the tubes 8, 9 placed at the second lowerjaw portion 80. In this embodiment, the pawl member 39 is disposed sothat a hook portion A 311, a hook portion B 312 and a hook portion C 313are located in parallel. An inner side face formed by these hookportions is arranged to have an approximately R shaped coplanar face.Further, the hook portion A 311 and the hook portion C 313 are made of astainless steel which is integrated with a base portion of the pawlmember 39.

A protruded portion 314 (See FIG. 12 to 14.), which maintains anengagement state with a roller B 317 that constitutes the roller 30 andthat serves as an engagement member, which prevents the plate piece 38locked by the locking mechanism from back-tracking and which serves as aprotruded portion, is formed at the hook portion B 312 disposed at acenter of the hook portions. Further, the hook portion B 312 is madelong in a direction opposite to tubes 8, 9 placed at the second lowerjaw portion 80 and an end of another side thereof is fixed from an innerface side by a screw 315 so that the hook portion B 312 exhibits afunction of a plate spring due to elastic deformation. In thisembodiment, the POM is used as a material for the hook portion B 312,and the hook portion B 312 is constituted by a resin member serving asan elastic member which has a flexure property of bending so as tochange its self-shape or having elasticity according to externalpressure.

On the other hand, the roller 30 is constituted by a plurality of arotatable roller A 316, a rotatable roller B 317 and a rotatable rollerC 318 into which a shaft is inserted and of which diameters areapproximately equal. The roller B 317 located at a center has a functionfor engaging the protruded portion 314 formed at one side of the hookportion B 312 and a slide face which is connected with the protrudedportion 314. (See FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.) A width of the roller B 317 isset almost equal to that of the hook portion B 312. The roller A 316 andthe roller C 318 adjacent to the roller C 313 are disposed so as toslide corresponding to the hook portion A 311 and the hook portion C 313of the pawl member 39, respectively. In this embodiment, a stainlesssteel is used as a material for the roller A 316 and the roller C 318 inthe same manner as the hook portion A 311 and the hook portion C 313.

Further, in this embodiment, in order to secure locking operationaccording to the locking mechanism successively, reaction force at atime that the hook portion B 312 bends subject to external pressure,when the covering body 34 is closed by an operator to press the tubes 8,9 to a flat state, is set to be smaller than pressing force that thepawl member 39 effects on the roller 30. Further, reaction force at atime that the hook portion B 312 bends subject to external pressure isset to be larger than or equal to load force of the roller B 317 againstthe protruded portion 314. Accordingly, the hook portion B 312 is alsoset such that its flexure property satisfies the above stated equation(1).

The second clamp 7 has a saw-shaped pressure closing member 71(unillustrated) which is fixed to a side face of the holder 31 and at aside of the holder 21, and a saw-shaped pressure closing member 72 whichis fixed to a side face of the covering body 34 and at a side of thecovering body 24 and which bites the pressure closing member 71 eachother. The pressure closing member 71 has inclined faces 73, 74 atpositions corresponding to the grooves 32, 33, respectively (See FIG.11.) Inclined faces 75, 76, which are parallel to the inclined faces 73,74 respectively and which are disposed at positions having apredetermined distance from the inclined faces 73, 74, are formed at thepressure closing member 72.

The first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 are usually located such thatthe grooves 22, 32 correspond to (align) the grooves 23, 33 respectivelyeach other.

The tube-pushing member 10 is disposed movably and integrally with thefirst clamp 6. Further, the tube-pushing member 10 has a saw-shaped tipportion 12 (corresponding to the pressure closing members 62, 72) atwhich inclined faces 15, 16 are formed in the same manner as the firstclamp 6 and the second clamp 7. However, it differs from the first clamp6 and the second clamp 7 in that it does not have the pressure closingmembers 61, 71 which bite each other via the tubes 8, 9. Furthermore,the tip portion 12 of the tube-pushing member 10 is placed at a positionprotruded a little more than a position of the pressure closing member62 of the first clamp 6, although the tip portion 12 has the same sawshape as the pressure closing member 62 of the first clamp 6 and thepressure closing member 72 of the second clamp 7.

A supporting member 11 having a L shaped cross section is fixed to thetube-pushing member 10 by screws. The supporting member 11 has asupporting member projection portion 14 which projects downward. Anunillustrated U shaped slider is provided at the supporting member 11.This slider is allowed to move along an unillustrated rail. Theunillustrated rail is fixed to a rail supporting member (unillustrated)and the rail supporting member is fixed to the covering body 24 byscrews. For this reason, the tube-pushing member 10 is integrated withthe first clamp 6 and can move relatively to the first clamp 6.Incidentally, since the tip portion 12 of the tube-pushing member 10 isprotruded more than the pressure closing member 62 of the first clamp 6,the tip portion 12 pushes the tubes 8, 9 prior to the first clamp 6 whenthe covering body 24 is closed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the tube connecting apparatus 1 is equippedwith a wafer feeding mechanism 100 which feeds the wafer (cuttingplate).

A fitting member 94 is set up at the casing of the tube connectingapparatus 1 and a pulse motor 110 capable of normal and reverse rotationis fixed by screws to the fitting member 94. A gear 112 is fixed to anoutput shaft 111 of the pulse motor 110, and a timing belt 113 isentrained between the gear 112 and a gear 114. The gear 114 is disposedat an axis of a ball screw 116 on which a wafer feeding member 115 thatfeeds the wafer 41 capable of cutting the tubes 8, 9 one by one isprovided and that is called as a shuttle. An unillustrated nut whichengages the ball screw 116 is provided at an interior of the waferfeeding member 115. The wafer feeding member 115 moves along the ballscrew 116 due to rotation of the ball screw 116 in accordance withrotation of the gear 114 of which driving source is the pulse motor 110.One side of the wafer feeding member 115 is supported by a rod-shapedshaft 117 to stabilize posture (movement) of the wafer feeding member115 at the time of feeding the wafer. A feeding piece 118 which feedsthe wafer 41 accommodated in a wafer cassette 120 which accommodates aplurality of wafers 41 (70 pieces in this embodiment) one by one fromthe wafer cassette 120 in accordance with movement of the wafer feedingmember 115 is fixed at an end portion of the wafer feeding member 115.

Unillustrated compression springs are disposed at an interior of thewafer cassette 120 so as to energize the wafers 41. When the wafer 41 isfed by the feeding piece 118 of the wafer feeding member 115, anadjacent wafer faces a side of the wafer feeding member 115 one afteranother, which allows the feeding piece 118 to feed the wafer 41continuously. Incidentally, the wafer feeding member 115 can move in adirection opposite to a direction of feeding the wafer 41 according toreverse rotation of the pulse motor 110.

The wafer 41 is a self-heating typed heat cutting plate. For example, asheet of a metal plate such as a copper plate or the like is folded intotwo, and a resistance body having a desired pattern for heating isformed inside the folded metal plate via insulating layers tomanufacture the wafer. The wafer 41 has a structure that terminals 44,45 (See FIG. 2.) disposed at both ends of the resistance body areexposed at apertures formed at each end portion of the metal plate.

Further, a revolving plate 130 which is adjacent to the gear 112 andwhich has a plurality of slits and which rotates according to rotationof the pulse motor 110 is fixed to an end portion of the output shaft111 of the pulse motor 110. The revolving plate 130 is provided todetect a moving amount of the wafer feeding member 115. At the vicinityof the revolving plate 130, a transmission type sensor 131 which detectsa revolving amount of the revolving plate 130 is fixed by screws to thefitting member 94 at an opposite side of the gear 114 so as to stridethe revolving plate 130.

A transmission type sensor 132 which detects the wafer feeding member115 which is located at a feeding start position of the wafer 41 and atransmission type sensor 133 which detects the wafer feeding member 115which is located at a feeding end position of the wafer 41 are disposedseparately with a predetermined interval at an opposite side of thewafer cassette 120 via the ball screw 116. A piece to be detected 119having an approximately L shape is fixed to the wafer feeding member 115at an opposite side of the feeding piece 118. Incidentally, detection ofthe moving amount of the wafer feeding member 115 according to the abovestated revolving plate 130 and the transmission type sensor 131 iscarried out at an interval between both positions of the transmissiontype sensors 132, 133.

The wafer 41 fed by the wafer feeding member 115 is located to adownstream side of a wafer conveying path from the wafer cassette 120,then located inside the wafer holder 140 which holds the wafer 41 andwhich constitutes a part of a cutting unit. As shown in FIG. 4, in thisembodiment, a structure that two pieces of the wafer 41 are held in thewafer holder 140 such that end faces thereof contact each other isemployed, and the wafer 41 is supplied in a manner that a wafer 41 a fedformerly from the wafer cassette 120 is pushed and moved on a conveyingpath 105 in the wafer holder 140 by a wafer 41 b fed newly from thewafer cassette 120. In other words, the wafer 41 b pushes and advancesthe wafer 41 a forward, and the wafer 41 a is located at a position forcutting the tubes 8, 9 in the wafer holder 140.

The terminals 44, 45 for the wafer 41 a which is located at a forwardside in the wafer holder 140 are supplied with electricity byprojection-shaped electrode portions 145, 146 from an unillustratedpower unit via a harness of which illustration is omitted. The electrodeportions 145, 146 are fixed integrally to the wafer holder 140 and aredisposed so as to face via the wafer 41 to an end surface of one wallside (a back side in FIG. 4) of the wafer holder 140. Incidentally, asstated later, because the wafer holder 140 moves up and down (swings) atthe time of cutting the tubes 8, 9, the electrode portions 145, 146integrally fixed to the wafer holder 140 also have a structure capableof supplying electricity for heating to the wafer 41.

The resistance body inside the wafer 41 generates heat according toelectricity supply from the electrode portions 145, 146, and the wafer41 is heated up to the temperature (ex. approximately 260 to 320 deg.C.) capable of melting and cutting the tubes 8, 9. Further, because itis preferable that the wafer 41 is disposable (for single use) at everyconnecting operation of the tubes, the wafer feeding mechanism 100 has astructure capable of exchanging the wafer 41 held in the wafer holder140 every time the tubes 8, 9 are connected.

The wafer holder 140 is heated by a heater 144 which is fitted to apivot-supporting plate 184 which will be stated later. (See FIG. 3.)While electric power is supplied to the heater 144 from theunillustrated power unit, the wafer holder 140 always keeps a heatedstate during a period that electric power is supplied to the tubeconnecting apparatus 1. An unillustrated temperature sensor such as athermistor or the like which detects a temperature of the wafer holder140 is fixed to the wafer holder 140, and the wafer holder 140 iscontrolled to keep a predetermined temperature (70 deg. C. in thisembodiment).

Temperature controlling in this embodiment will be explained further.Since a surface of the wafer 41 is covered by the copper plate as statedabove, the wafer 41 is influenced by the temperature that the waferholder 140 has due to the material (copper) characteristics when it isinserted into the wafer holder 140 and it reaches the predeterminedtemperature immediately after it is inserted into the wafer holder 140.A controlling unit 190 as stated later forecasts that the wafer 41supplied electric power from the electrode portions 145, 146 reaches apredetermined temperature (ex. about 260 to 320 deg. C. as stated above)after a predetermined period of time from a time that the wafer 41 isinserted into the wafer holder 140 in order to shift to tube-cuttingoperation according to the wafer 41 (ascending movement of the waferholder 140).

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the tube connecting apparatus 1 isequipped with a drive-conveying mechanism 200 that functions as amovement unit which moves the first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 andthat moves the wafer holder 140 (up and down).

A pulse motor 150 which is a driving source of the drive-conveyingmechanism 200 and which is capable of normal and reverse rotation isfitted by screws to an unillustrated motor fitting member which is fixedto the casing of the tube connecting apparatus 1 at a side of the waferholder 140 and at a downstream side of the wafer feeding member 115. Agear 152 is fixed to an output shaft 151 of the pulse motor 150 and thegear 152 bites a gear 153 each other. A gear 154 is fixed on a coaxialline of the gear 153 and this gear 154 bites a gear 155 each other. Adriving shaft 156 which rotates together with the gear 155 according todriving force conveyed to the gear 155 is provided at a center ofrotation for the gear 155. A cam 157 which regulates movement of thefirst clamp 6, a cam 158 which regulates movement of the second clamp 7and a cam 159 which regulates movement of the wafer holder 140 arerespectively fixed on the driving shaft 156. Accordingly, driving forcefrom the pulse motor 150 is conveyed to the driving shaft 156 and thecams 157, 158 and 159 are driven to rotate respectively.

A groove 161 is formed at an interior of the cam 157, and a bearing 162which engages an edge face of the groove 161 is connected via a fittingmember 163 to a supporting table 164 (See FIG. 1.) which supports thefirst clamp 6 in a fixed state. For this reason, the bearing 162 slidesalong the edge face of the groove 161 formed at the interior of the cam157 to enable the first clamp 6 to move in a predetermined direction (adirection of an arrow A in FIG. 3). Incidentally, a liner guide 165which guides the supporting table 164 (the first clamp 6) so as to movestably is disposed at a bottom portion of the supporting table 164 in acontact state. Further, a compression spring 166 is bridged at one endof the supporting table 164 so as to energize this supporting table 164to a predetermined direction.

On the other hand, a bearing 172 which engages a surface of the cam 158is connected via a fitting member 173 to a supporting table 174 whichsupports the second clamp 7 in a fixed state. For this reason, accordingto rotation of the cam 158, the bearing 172 slides along the surface ofthe cam 158 to enable the second clamp 7 to move in a predetermineddirection (a direction of an arrow B in FIG. 3). Incidentally, in thisembodiment, the bearing 172 is constituted to not only engage a sideface of the cam 158 but also engage a surface of a flange portion 177which is integrally formed with the cam 159 which regulates the movementof the wafer holder 140. In short, the bearing 172 is located betweenthe side face of the cam 158 and the flange portion 177 so that thebearing 172 has a structure capable of engaging and sliding on both ofthem, and the flange portion 177 is included in a part of a function ofthe cam 158 which regulates the movement of the second clamp 7. Anotched portion 178 (See FIGS. 15(C) and (D).) is formed at a part ofthe cam 158 as stated later. Incidentally, a liner guide 175 whichguides the supporting table 174 (the second clamp 7) so as to movestably is disposed at a bottom portion of the supporting table 174 in acontact state. Further, a compression spring 176 is bridged at one endof the supporting table 174 so as to energize this supporting table 174to a predetermined direction.

Further, a bearing 182 (See FIG. 4.) is fitted via a fitting member 183to a bottom portion of the wafer holder 140. Because the bearing 182slides along a surface shape of the cam 159 according to rotation of thecam 159, the wafer holder 140 is constituted so as to move in apredetermined direction (a vertical direction). In other words, bypivoting integrally with and around a shaft axis 187 which penetrates ahole 186 formed at a protruded portion 185 of the pivot-supporting plate184 which is fitted to the wafer holder 140, the wafer holder 140 isstructured so as to be able to swing in a vertical direction. A slantedprojection portion 148 which has a metal roller 147 at its tip isintegrally formed with an upper side of the wafer holder 140 (See FIG.4.), and the roller 147 is brought to contact the supporting memberprojection portion 14 (See FIG. 2.). Due to a change in the surfaceshape of the cam 159, when the wafer holder 140 ascends (swings) at apredetermined timing, the tube-pushing member 10 (See FIG. 2.) is pushedupward. Thus, the projection portion 148 has a function for guiding thetube-pushing member 10 to the evacuating position.

Further, a revolving plate 197 at which a notch 198 is formed is fixedto the driving shaft 156 between the cam 157 and the gear 155. (See FIG.6.) Transmission type sensors 195, 196 are disposed adjacent to therevolving plate 197 so as to stride the revolving plate 197. Byutilizing the notch 198 formed at the revolving plate 197, positiondetection for the first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 is carried out bythe transmission type sensors 195 and 196. Namely, while the revolvingplate 197 rotates in a predetermined direction according to rotation ofthe driving shaft 156, when light from the transmission type sensor 195transmits the notch 198 (See FIG. 6(A).), the first clamp 6 and thesecond clamp 7 are defined at their initial positions. Namely, thetransmission type sensor 195 is used as a sensor for detecting theinitial positions of the first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, a guide 141 which guides (constitutes the conveyingpath for) a used wafer 41 and a waste box 142 which accommodates theused wafer(s) 41 are disposed at a downstream side of the wafer holder140. The wafer 41 located at a position at which it can cut the tubes iswasted (accommodated) to the waste box 142 after cutting and connectingoperation of the tubes 8, 9 is carried out. This wasting operation isalso carried out by pushing the end faces of the wafers 41 each other asstated above. The wasted wafer 41 is guided along the guide 141 and thendropped into the waste box 142 to accommodate it. A transmission typesensor 143 which detects a full state of the used wafers 41 wasted andaccommodated in the waste box 142 is disposed at a side of the waste box142 and at a position having a predetermined height from a bottom of thewaste box 142.

Furthermore, the tube connecting apparatus 1 is equipped with acontrolling unit 190 for carrying out movement controlling of whole ofthe apparatus, a display panel 192 for displaying a state of theapparatus to an operator, a start button 193 for startingmovement/operation of the apparatus, a constant voltage power supplyunit which converts commercial AC power source to DC power source whichcan drive/actuate actuators such as pulse motors and the like as well asthe controlling unit 190.

The controlling unit 190 is constituted with a CPU 191 which operates ata high clock speed as a central processing unit, a ROM in whichcontrolling program and controlling data for the tube connectingapparatus 1 are memorized, a RAM which works as a work area for the CPU191 and an internal bus which connects these. An external bus isconnected to the controlling unit 190. A display controlling sectionwhich controls display of the display panel 192, a start buttoncontrolling section which controls a start command from the start button193, a sensor controlling section which controls signals from varioussensors such as transmission type sensors, temperature sensors and thelike, an actuator controlling section which controls motor drivers whichsends driving pulses to pulse motors are connected to the external bus.Incidentally, the display panel 192, the start button 193, theabove-stated various sensors, the pulse motors 110, 150 are connectedrespectively to the display controlling section, the start buttoncontrolling section, the sensor controlling section and the actuatorcontrolling section.

(Operation)

Next, operation of the tube connecting apparatus 1 in this embodimentwill be explained in the order of clamping operation with respect topressing and maintaining pressing thereof against the tubes 8, 9,cutting and connecting routine carried out by the CPU 191 in thecontrolling unit 190. Incidentally, in order to simplify an explanation,the second clamp 7 is represented to explain the clamping operation.

<Clamping Operation>

Prior to tube cutting and connection operation (execution of the cuttingand connecting routine by the CPU 191) due to the tube connectingapparatus 1, an operator pushes the tubes 8, 9 to the grooves 32, 33formed at the holder 31. Thus, the tubes 8, 9 are put (placed) insidethe grooves 32, 33. (A state shown in FIG. 12) In this state, the tubes8, 9 has an original cylindrical shape (circular cross sectional shapein figures) because of before starting pressing operation to the tubes8, 9.

Next, an operator grasps the tip portion of the plate piece 38 providedpivotably at one end portion of the covering body 34 through the hinge37 to push and move the pawl member 39 downward a side of the holder 31(a direction of an arrow F in FIG. 12) so that the saw-shaped pressureclosing member 72 abuts the tubes 8, 9 for pressing operation. Thereby,after the pressure closing member 72 abuts the tubes 8, 9, the pawlmember 39 pivots around the hinge 37 in the direction of the arrow F,then the tip portion of the pawl member 39 shifts to a state that itcollides with the roller 30. (A state shown in FIG. 13(A) and FIG.14(A)) Since, in this state, the pressure closing member 72 pushes thetubes 8, 9 to some degree, the tubes 8, 9 shifts to a deformed statefrom the cylindrical shape shown in FIG. 12. Incidentally, in FIG.13(A), in order to characterize structural portions relating to thepresent invention, the hook portion B 312 having the protruded portion314 at the tip of the pawl member 39 and the roller B 317 having anengagement relationship with the protruded portion 314 are illustratedby a partial cross section with diagonal lines. As shown in FIG. 13(A),in this state, the protruded portion 314 of the hook portion B 312 madeof the POM abuts the roller B 317.

When an operator, from this state, further pushes down the covering body38 in a direction of the arrow F, the protruded portion 314 disposed atone side end portion of the hook portion B 312 advances toward adirection of a predetermined locking position in accordance withrotation of the roller B 317 with which the protruded portion 314 has anengagement relationship (the hook portion B 312 advances forward) to bepushed downward around another side which is fixed by screws as afulcrum. In short, the roller B 317 having the flexure property yieldsto pressure caused by engagement with the resin made roller B 317 and itbecomes a bending state. (A state shown in FIG. 13(B) and FIG. 14(B)) Inthis state, a top part of the protruded portion 314 still has anengagement (contact) relationship with the roller B 317, yet, since thetop part takes approximately the same face as upper faces of theadjacent hook portion A 311 and the adjacent hook portion C 313, theupper faces of the hook portion A 311 and the hook portion C 313 alsoslide to contact respectively circumferential surfaces of metal maderollers of the roller A 316 and the roller C 318 which are adjacent tothe roller B 317 on both sides.

When an operator continues to pushes down the covering body 38 in adirection of the arrow F, in a state that all faces in a width directionof the hook section 310 at a side of engaging the roller 30 (theprotruded portion 314, upper faces of the adjacent hook portions A 311and C 313) slide to contact the roller 30 (resin made roller B 317,metal made rollers A 316, C 318 adjacent thereto on both sides) asstated above, the protruded portion 314 of the hook portion B 312 slidesto contact the circumferential surface of the roller B 317 and the upperportions of the adjacent hook portion A 311 and the hook portion C 313slide to contact circumferential surface of the roller A 316 and theroller C 318, then the protruded portion 314 is located at apredetermined locking position (an engagement maintaining position formaintaining engagement). (A state shown in FIG. 13(C) and FIG. 14(C))The roller B 317 of the roller 30 climbs over the protruded portion 314of the hook portion B 312 so that the protruded portion 314 can advanceto a direction of the locking position, and during this period of time,namely during a period shifted from a state shown in FIG. 13(B) to astate shown in FIG. 13(C), and from a state shown in FIG. 14(B) to astate shown in FIG. 14(C), a bending state of the hook portion B 312 isrecovered to go back to an original state thereof.

In this state, the back-tracking of the plate piece 38 is preventedbecause the protruded portion 314 is retained at the predeterminedlocking position according to interaction among the pressing force, thereaction force and the load force, and the tubes 8, 9 are maintained ina predetermined pressing state by the pressure closing member 72 toretain the tubes 8, 9 in an expected flat state because the upper faceportions of the hook portions A 311 and C 313 maintain the engagementrelationship with the circumferential surfaces of metal-made rollers A316 and C 318 and because of the hook function of the pawl member 39, inother words, because the locking function according to the lockingmechanism is maintained.

Incidentally, in the above clamping operation, the second clamp 7 wereexemplified, however, the same thing is also true to the first clamp 6.

<Cutting and Connecting Routine>

When power source is inputted to the controlling unit 190 via anunillustrated switch, the CPU 191 carries out initial setting processwhich reads out the controlling program and the controlling data fromthe ROM and develops them at the RAM.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6(A), the CPU 191 determines as to whether or notthe transmission type sensor 195 detected the notch 198 in order tojudge whether or not the first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 arelocated at the initial positions (positions where the clamps can holdthe tubes 8, 9 in the grooves 22, 23, 32, 33 in a parallel state eachother). If a negative judgment is made, since the first clamp 6 and thesecond clamp 7 are not in the initial positions and can not secureregular cutting and connecting operation, the CPU 191 makes the displaypanel 192 via the display controlling section to display that anunillustrated reset button be pushed. When the unillustrated resetbutton is pushed, the CPU 191 drives the pulse motor 150 via theactuator controlling section in order to locate the first clamp 6 andthe second clamp 7 at the initial positions. If an affirmative judgmentis made (or the first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 are located at theinitial positions), the CPU 191 judges whether or not the waste box 142is full according to a two-level signal from the transmission sensor143. When an affirmative judgment is made, because the waste box 142 inwhich the wafers 41 wasted and accommodated is full and it is impossiblefor the wafer feeding mechanism 100 to feed the wafer 41 from the wafercassette 120, the CPU 191 makes the display panel 192 to display thatthe waste box 142 is full and waits until a judgment that the waste box142 is full is denied according to the signal from the transmissionsensor 143. If a negative judgment is made, because it is capable ofcarrying out regular cutting and connecting operation to the tubes 8, 9,the CPU 191 makes the display panel 192 to display that putting(setting) of tubes 8, 9 is urged and waits until the start button 193 ispushed.

An operator opens the covering body 24 of the first clamp 6 and thecovering body 34 of the second clamp 7 to put (set) the tubes 8, 9 intothe grooves 22, 23. When the operator opens either one of the coveringbody 24 of the first clamp 6 or the covering body 34 of the second clamp7, because the shaft 19 of the first clamp 6 is inserted into the longhole 40 of the second clamp 7, another of the covering body 24 of thefirst clamp 6 or the covering body 34 of the second clamp 7 is linked toopen approximately at the same time. Then, the operator carries outoperation for closing the covering body 24 of the first clamp 6 and thecovering body 34 of the second clamp 7 to the put tubes 8, 9. (See FIG.7.) When the operator closes either one of the covering body 24 of thefirst clamp 6 or the covering body 34 of the second clamp 7, because theshaft 19 of the first clamp 6 is inserted into the long hole 40 of thesecond clamp 7, another of the covering body 24 of the first clamp 6 orthe covering body 34 of the second clamp 7 is linked to closeapproximately at the same time. When the operator further continues tocarry out the operation for closing the covering body 24 and thecovering body 34, the tip portion 12 of the tube-pushing member 10firstly abuts and then deforms the tubes 8, 9, which are put in aparallel state at a first position P1 that is an abutting position, to aflat state. (See FIG. 8(A).) At this moment, blood inside the tubes 8, 9at a portion which was pressed by the tube-pushing member 10 is pushedout such that it is excluded in directions of an arrow c and an arrow din FIG. 8(A).

Subsequently, when the operation for closing the covering body 24 andthe covering body 34 is carried out further, the pawl member 29 engagesthe roller 20 of the locking mechanism in the first clamp 6, thereby thecovering body 24 is locked so as not to open. In this state, the firstclamp 6 presses and holds the tubes 8, 9 to a flat state withpredetermined pressing force at a second position P2 which is adjacentto the first position P1. At this time, the tube-pushing member 10disposed so as to contact the first clamp 6 also presses the tubes 8, 9to an almost squashed state (a state that blood inside the tubes hardlyexits) according to the energizing force of unillustrated springs in thesame manner as the first clamp 6. (See FIG. 8(B).)

FIG. 10(A) shows a state that the covering body 24 of the first clamp 6is closed to the tubes 8, 9 put in the grooves 22, 23 and a state justbefore the tip portion 12 of the tube-pushing member 10 presses tubes 8,9 to a flat state. As shown in FIG. 10(B), when the operator continuesthe operation for closing the covering body 24, the tip portion 12 ofthe tube-pushing member 10 presses the tubes 8, 9 to a flat state. Atthis time, pressing operation by the first clamp 6 and the second clamp7 to the tubes 8, 9 is carried out continuously in a linked manner.

Further, because movement of the second clamp 7 is linked with movementof the first clamp 6 due to insertion of the shaft 19 into the long hole40, operation for closing the covering body 34 of the second clamp 7 iscarried out approximately at the same time of the operation for closingthe covering body 24 of the first clamp 6. When the pawl member 39 ofthe locking mechanism in the second clamp 7 engages the roller 30 andthe covering body 34 is locked so as not to open, the second clamp 7which is located so as to contact the tube-pushing member 10, in thesame manner as the first clamp 6, presses and holds the tubes 8, 9 to aflat state in an almost squashed state (a state that blood inside thetubes hardly exits) with predetermined pressing force at a thirdposition P3 which is adjacent to the first position P1 and which is aposition opposing to the second position P2 via the first position P1.Thus, blood inside the tubes 8, 9 from the second position P2 to thethird position P3 via the first position P1, namely, blood inside thetubes 8, 9 at portions being equivalent from a portion pressed by thefirst clamp 6 to a portion pressed by the second clamp 7 via thetube-pushing member 10 is almost excluded (See FIG. 8(B).), pressing andholding operation of the tubes 8, 9 is finished. FIGS. 13(C) and 14(C)show the first clamp 6, the tube-pushing member 10 and the wafer holder140 in the finished state, and FIGS. 15(A) and 16(A) show a moving stateof the cam 158 and the cams 157, 159.

When an operator pushes the start button 193 of the apparatus 1, the CPU191 fetches a start signal via the start button controlling section andexecutes feeding operation for wafer 41 from the wafer cassette 120according to the wafer feeding mechanism 100.

As stated above, the wafer feeding member 115 which is moved by rotationdriving of the pulse motor 110 moves reciprocally between the waferfeeding start position and the wafer feeding end position according tonormal and reverse rotation of the pulse motor 110. At this time, theCPU 191 detects a position of the wafer feeding member 115 locatedbetween the wafer feeding start position and the wafer feeding endposition at a time of normal rotation of the pulse motor 110 with thetransmission type sensor 131 one pulse by one pulse in accordance withthe revolving amount of the revolving plate 130 which is linked directlywith the rotation of the pulse motor 110. Namely, by detecting the pieceto be detected 119 of the wafer feeding member 115 which is located atthe wafer feeding start position with the transmission type sensor 132,and based on the wafer feeding start position, by detecting the movingamount of the wafer feeding member 115 through the revolving amount ofthe revolving plate 130 with the transmission type sensor 131, the CPU191 grasps as to where the wafer feeding member 115 is located.

The CPU 191 judges as to whether or not the wafer feeding member 115moves more than a predetermined amount (30 mm in this embodiment, Seethe wafer feeding member 15 shown by a two dotted line in FIG. 15.) fromthe wafer feeding start position to a direction of the wafer feeding endposition. When a negative judgment is made, the CPU 191 continues tograsp the position of the wafer feeding member 115. Incidentally, inthis embodiment, the moving amount of the wafer feeding member 115 forfeeding the wafer 41 is set to approximately 55 mm.

When an affirmative judgment is made, the CPU 191 judges as to whetheror not a difference between a predetermined number of pulses and anactually detected number of pulses, which is not less than predeterminedpulses (ex. 20 pulses), occurred, namely, the CPU 191 judges as towhether or not the actually detected number of pulses was less than 20pulses to the predetermined number of pulses. When an affirmativejudgment is made, the CPU 191 determines that feeding malfunction of thewafer 41 occurred and waits until the reset button is pushed. When anegative judgment is made, the CPU 191 determines that normal feedingwas made.

When feeding malfunction of the wafer 41 is determined, the CPU 191stops driving of the pulse motor 110 and makes the display panel 192 todisplay an error indication (feeding malfunction of wafer) and displaythat the wafer is to be removed, and drives the pulse motor 150 by apredetermined amount reversely opposing to the normal driving carriedout at the time of a series of tube connecting operation to locate thecam 158 at a predetermined position so that the notched portion 178formed at the cam 158 faces the bearing 172. (See FIG. 15(C).) Thus, thebearing 172 is ready to advance into the notched portion 178. In otherwords, the second clamp 7 is allowed to move to an evacuating positionin a right direction of an arrow B in FIG. 3 (a direction that allowsthe second clamp 7 to move in a direction opposite to a direction of thesecond clamp 7 at the time of connecting the tubes). (In thisembodiment, the second clamp 7 is allowed to move by approximately 4mm.) At this moment, both of the transmission type sensors 195, 196 arein a state that they are shielded by the revolving plate 197. (See FIG.6(C).)

An operator can move the second clamp 7 to the evacuating position andremove the wafer which caused feeding malfunction such as double feedingof the wafers 41 by accessing a space defined between the first clamp 6and the second clamp 7. (See FIG. 15(D).) When the operator pushes anunillustrated reset button after finishing the error cancellationoperation, the CPU 191 fetches a signal thereof, then drives the pulsemotors 110, 150 to reset various mechanisms to an initial state.

When normal feeding of the wafer 41 is determined, the CPU 191 executescutting/connecting process. In cutting process, as stated above, the CPU191 judges as to whether or not the wafer 41 reached the predeterminedtemperature capable of melting the tubes 8, 9 by judging whether or notthe predetermined period of time has lapsed from the time that the wafer41 was inserted into the wafer holder 140 with an internal clock. When anegative judgment is made, the CPU 191 waits until a predetermined timelapses. When an affirmative judgment is made, the CPU 191 drives thepulse motor 150. This makes the cam 158 and the cams 157, 159 to startrotating in a predetermined direction, yet the cam 158 retains a stateshown in FIG. 15(A) for a predetermined period of time. During thisperiod, the wafer holder 140 swings according to rotation of the cam 159to ascend a predetermined distance between the first clamp 6 and thesecond clamp 7. (See FIG. 16(B).) Accompanied by this ascendingmovement, the roller 147 ascends and the supporting member projectionportion 14 which abuts the roller 147 also ascends.

As shown in FIG. 9(A), the projection portion 148 which has the metalroller 147 at its tip and which forms a part of the wafer holder 140pushes up a part of the tube-pushing member 10 which pressed the tubes8, 9 at the first position P1, and the heated wafer 41 which is held bythe wafer holder 140 advances to the gap between the first position P1and the second position P2 (between the first clamp 6 and the secondclamp 7) to cut the two tubes 8, 9. At this time, the tube-pushingmember 10 is brought in a state that it is located at the evacuatingposition to the wafer 41. (See FIG. 10(C).) FIG. 13 shows a state thatthe wafer holder 140 ascends (swings) and the wafer 41 cuts the tubes 8,9 set at the predetermined positions. On the other hand, the cam 157rotates (See FIG. 16(B).) from a state shown in FIG. 16(A), but thefirst clamp 6 (the supporting table 164) is kept in a stopped state inthe same manner as the second clamp 7 (the supporting table 174) shownin FIG. 15(A).

The CPU 191 further continues to drive the pulse motor 150. The waferholder 140 retains a state shown in FIG. 16(B), while the first clamp 6(the supporting table 164) moves by a predetermined distance (8 mm) in adirection of an arrow a of a left side of the FIG. 16(C) (a directiontoward the arrow A in FIG. 3, a direction of the arrow X in FIG. 17)according to rotation of the cam 157. At this moment, the positions ofthe cut tubes are relatively changed and the portions to be connectedface each other. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17, the wafer 41 whichhas cut the tubes 8, 9 is held at a cutting position thereof in thestopped state. Further at this time, the shaft 19 of the first clamp 6moves inside the long hole 40 of the second clamp 7 in a state that theshaft 19 is inserted in the long hole 40.

Subsequently, the wafer holder 140 swings to descend (See FIG. 16(C).)according to rotation of the cam 159, but the tube-pushing member 10 isheld at the above stated evacuating position in a stopped state. (SeeFIG. 9(B).) On the other hand, because the bearing 172 adjacent to thecam 158 slides along a shape of the flange portion 177, the second clamp7 (the supporting table 174) moves by a predetermined distance (0.6 mm)in a direction of an arrow b in FIG. 15(B) (a left direction of an arrowB in FIG. 3, a direction of an arrow Y in FIG. 9(C)). Thus, theconnecting operation of the tubes 8, 9 is finished. At this time, asshown in FIG. 6(B), the notch 198 is located at a position that facesthe transmission type sensor 196, and the CPU 191 confirms apredetermined state (a state that the first clamp 6 is dislocated fromthe second clamp 7) to stop driving of the pulse motor 150.

When an operator lifts the plate piece 38 provided at the tip side ofthe covering body 34 to remove the tube(s) that the connecting operationis finished from a main body of the apparatus, the hook portion 314having the flexure property bends to release engagement with the rollerB in order to cancel locking according to the locking mechanism.Accordingly, the covering body 34 becomes an opened state. (See FIG.12.) At this time, the covering body 34 and the covering body 24 are ina state that their relative positions are changed or dislocated,however, because the shaft 19 is inserted in the long hole 40, when theoperator lifts the covering body 34, the covering body 24 is liftedapproximately at the same time linked with lifting of the covering body34. (Even he/she lifts the covering body 24, the covering body 34 islifted linked with the covering body 24.) Incidentally, linked with theopening operation for the covering body 34, pushing to the tube 8, 9 dueto the tube-pushing member 10 is also canceled.

(Effects and the Like)

Next, effects and the like of the tube connecting apparatus 1 in thisembodiment will be explained.

In the tube connecting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the tube-pushingmember 10 whose tip portion 12 is protruded a little more than thepressure closing member 62 of the first clamp 6 is disposed between thefirst clamp 6 and the second clamp 7, and the tube-pushing member 10presses the tubes 8, 9 so as to push out the residual blood in the tubesat the pushing portion prior to pressing of the first clamp 6 and thesecond clamp 7 in order to exclude the blood. Accordingly, the tubeconnecting apparatus 1 can connect the tubes each other without beinginfluenced by the blood in the tubes at the time of cutting and thenconnecting the tubes each other.

Further, in the tube connecting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the tipends of the pawl members 29, 39 which constitute the hook sections 300and 310 set up at the first upper jaw portion 50 and the second upperjaw portion 60 that press and hold the tubes 8, 9, are divided into aplurality of portions, and among the portions, the protruded portions304 and 314 for preventing back-tracking are formed at the hook portionsB 302 and 312. At the same time, the resin members (POM) capable ofelastic deformation are used for the hook portions B 302, 312, and sucha structure that the hook portions exhibit a function of a plate springis employed (The hook portions are long in a direction orthogonal to thetubes 8, 9 and the end portions thereof are fixed by screws.) in orderto promote their flexure property. Accordingly, durability for membersthat constitute the locking mechanisms is improved, while maintainingpressing force against the tubes 8, 9. Further, operability and workefficiency of the tube connecting apparatus 1 can be improved sincepressing force (load force) according to an operator is lowered at atime of locking and unlocking comparing with the conventional tubeconnecting apparatus as shown in the equation (1). Furthermore, in thetube connecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the rollerB 307, 317 rides over the protruded portions 304, 314 by satisfying therelationship shown in the equation (1) to allow the protruded portions304, 314 to advance toward their locking positions, and since reactionforce when the hook portions B 302, 312 bend according to external forceis set larger than or equal to the load force of the rollers B 307, 317against the protruded portions 304, 314, the protruded portions 304, 314are retained at the locking positions while maintaining appropriatepressing force against the tubes 8, 9, so that locking operation by thelocking mechanisms is maintained successively.

Moreover, in the tube connecting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, theresin member (POM) is also used for the rollers B 307, 317 of the firstlower jaw portion 70 and the second lower jaw portion 80 which engagesthe hook portions B 302, 312 and which has the latch function.Accordingly, since the apparatus can avoid lowering of locking force atthe locking mechanisms even in long-term use unlike the conventionaltube connecting apparatus that causes parts to wear away at a time ofengagement and contact operation between metal-made members each otherin locking, a tube connecting apparatus having high durability can beprovided.

Furthermore, in the tube connecting apparatus 1, at the time ofconnecting the tubes, the positions of the end portions of the cut tubesare changed (shifted) relatively in the state of contacting the wafer 41such that the end portions to be connected of the tubes face each other,and the end portions to be connected of the tubes are contacted witheach other for connecting the tubes at the same time of the descendingmovement of the wafer 41. However, in this embodiment, since thestructure of the above stated locking mechanisms is employed, smoothcutting operation as well as stable and reliable connecting operation tothe tubes 8, 9 can be secured.

Moreover, in the tube connecting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, sincethe structure for releasing the tube-pushing member 10, linked with theopening operation of the covering bodies 24, 34, is employed, thetube-pushing member 10 can be reset to the initial state at a time ofstarting the next connecting of the tubes carried out by an operator.Accordingly, a series of processing time is shortened and workefficiency can be improved.

Further, in the tube connecting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, thepiece to be detected 119 of the wafer feeding member 115 which islocated at the wafer feeding start position is detected by thetransmission type sensor 132, and from the wafer feeding start position,the moving amount of the wafer feeding member 115 is detected by therevolving plate 130 and the transmission type sensor 131. Accordingly, afeeding amount (feed) of the wafer 41 can be detected precisely.Furthermore, since the feeding malfunction is judged when the actuallydetected number of pulses is more than the predetermined number ofpulses, detection accuracy of the feeding malfunction of the wafer 41can be improved.

Furthermore, in the tube connecting apparatus 1, since the structurethat the bearing 172 is capable of advancing into the notched portion178 when the feeding malfunction of the wafer 41 caused is employed, anoperator can cancel the feeding malfunction of the wafer 41 by movingthe second clamp 7 to the evacuating position. Conventionally, when thistype of error was occurred, the apparatus was returned to a factory asmalfunction of the apparatus to remove the wafer which caused thefeeding malfunction through disassembling the apparatus. However,according to the tube connecting apparatus 1, since an operator caneasily carry out error cancellation due to the feeding malfunction ofthe wafer, operability and reliance to the apparatus can be improved.

Further, in the tube connecting apparatus 1, since the wafer feedingmechanism 100 is stopped when the full state of the waste box 142 isdetected by the transmission type sensor 143, even if automaticthrusting (feeding) structure for the wafer(s) is employed, the waferjammed by the following wafer at the conveying path can be prevented.Furthermore, in the tube connecting apparatus 1, whether or not thefirst clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 can hold the tubes 8, 9 in parallelwith each other is judged according to the transmission type sensor 195,and when the clamps are not parallel (not in the initial positions), theapparatus is not started as it is but the apparatus is started after thefirst clamp 6 and second clamp 7 are returned to the appropriate initialpositions according to pushing of the reset button. Accordingly, regularcutting and connecting operation can be always secured.

Moreover, in the tube connecting apparatus 1, since the shaft 19 of thefirst clamp 6 can be inserted into the long hole 40 of the second clamp7, not only in a state that the first clamp 6 and the second clamp 7 arelocated at the initial positions (a time of setting the tubes) but alsoin a state that relative positions thereof are changed (a time offinishing connecting the tubes), when either one of the covering body 24of the first clamp 6 or the covering body 34 of the second clamp 7 isopened/closed, another of the covering body 24 of the first clamp 6 orthe covering body 34 of the second clamp 7 is opened/closedapproximately at the same time in a linking manner. Accordingly,operability or handling efficiency is improved. Further, in the tubeconnecting apparatus 1, the cam structure is employed instead of theconventional movement mechanism(s) which moves directly the first clamp6 and the second clamp 7 in the X, Y directions such as an X, Y table orthe like. Accordingly, downsizing of the apparatus per se can berealized.

Further, the tube connecting apparatus 1 can realize wet-to-wetconnecting between the tubes easily, uniformly and rapidly under asterilized condition only by putting the tubes 8, 9 in which blood iscontained and sealed into the grooves 22, 23, 32 and 33 and locking thecovering bodies 24, 34 with the locking mechanisms. Because such a tubeconnecting apparatus has been requested to realize from a public view,an industrial value thereof seems to be extremely high.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the stainless steel for the baseportions of the pawl members 29, 39, the hook portions A 301, 311 andthe hook portions C 303, 301 and the POM for hook portions B 302, 312and the rollers B 307, 317 were exemplified. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the same. A metal-made member having highrigidity such as aluminum alloy and the like may be used for the hookportion A 301 and the like, and other resin members having smallrigidity may be used for the hook portion B 302 and the like.

Further, in this embodiment, an example that the projection portion 148is formed integrally with the wafer holder 140 was shown, however, theprojection portion 148 and the wafer holder 140, each being a separatemember, may be fixed so as to be unified. In a case that the projectionportion 148 is formed to be slanted like this embodiment, unification(integration) of the separated two members can make a cost for partslower.

Further, in this embodiment, the protruded portions 304, 314 wereexemplified as a protruded portion. However, it is sufficient for theprotruded portion of the present invention to protrude so that theprotruded portion can maintain an engagement relationship with therollers 307, 317 as engagement members, respectively, and it issufficient for a shape thereof to protrude from the surroundings, evenif the shape may have a protruded shape or a projected shape whichprotrudes milder than the protruded shape.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example that connecting of the tubesin which blood is contained and sealed each other was shown, however,the present invention is not restricted to this. The present inventionmay be applied either in a case of connecting between a tube in whichblood is contained and an empty tube or in a case of connecting betweenempty tubes in which blood is not contained; both have been carried outconventionally. Further, an example that feeding operation of the wafer41 from the wafer cassette 120 by the wafer feeding mechanism 100 isstarted by pushing the start button 193 was exemplified, however, thepresent invention is not limited to this. The feeding operation may beinitiated by pushing the reset button. Furthermore, a structure that agroove is formed at a second pressing unit, more concretely, the longhole 40 is formed at the second clamp 7 was shown, however, the presentinvention is not limited to this. A structure that a dented portion isformed at a bottom of the plate piece 38 of the second clamp may beemployed.

Further, in this embodiment, the tube connecting apparatus whichconnects the two tubes in which blood is contained and sealed was shown.However, the present invention is not restricted to the same. It is alsoapplicable to a tube connecting apparatus which connects three tubes ormore, or a tube connecting apparatus which connects tubes in whichliquid other than blood is contained and sealed properly each other.

Moreover, in this embodiment, a structure that the wafer holder 140 canhold two wafers was exemplified, however, the present invention is notlimited to the same. The wafer holder may hold a single wafer, or, threewafers or more.

And, in this embodiment, the saw-shaped pressure closing members 61, 62,71, 72 and the saw-shaped tube-pushing member 10 were explained.However, since it is sufficient for these members to have a function forpushing out and excluding blood in the tubes 8, 9, they may press andclose the tubes 8, 9, for example, at their horizontal faces. Further,the wafer 41 is not limited to the self-heating typed one. For example,the wafer may have a structure heated by a heat source such as anelectric heater.

DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS

-   -   1 tube connecting apparatus    -   6 first clamp (holding unit, first holding section)    -   7 second clamp (holding unit, second holding section)    -   8, 9 tube    -   20, 30 roller    -   28, 38 plate piece (a part of a hook section)    -   29, 39 pawl member (a part of a hook section)    -   41 wafer (a part of a cutting unit)    -   50 first upper jaw portion (movable clamp section)    -   60 second upper jaw portion (movable clamp section)    -   70 first lower jaw portion (placement clamp section)    -   80 second lower jaw portion (placement clamp section)    -   140 wafer holder (a part of a cutting unit)    -   150 pulse motor (a part of a movement unit)    -   156 driving shaft (a part of a movement unit)    -   200 drive-conveying mechanism (a part of a movement unit, a part        cutting unit)    -   300, 310 hook section    -   301, 311 hook portion A (a part of a hook section)    -   302, 312 hook portion B (a part of a hook section, elastic        member)    -   303, 313 hook portion C (a part of a hook section)    -   304, 314 protruded portion (protruded portion)    -   306, 316 roller A    -   307, 317 roller B (engagement member)    -   308, 318 roller C

1. A tube clamp apparatus which presses to hold a flexible tube in aflat state, comprising: a placement clamp section at which the tube isplaced; a movable clamp section which is movable in a direction ofpressing the tube which is placed at the placement clamp section and ina direction of separating from the tube; and a hook section which is setup at the movable clamp section and which engages the placement clampsection to maintain a pressing state of the movable clamp sectionagainst the tube, wherein the hook section has a plurality of dividedhook portions, and wherein at least one of the hook portions has aprotruded portion which protrudes toward one side thereof than otherhook portions and is made of an elastic member which maintainsengagement with the placement clamp section.
 2. A tube clamp apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is made of resin havinga flexure property of bending so as to change its self-shape accordingto external pressure.
 3. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the hook section is divided into plural pieces in a directionorthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the tube placed at theplacement clamp section, and wherein another side of the elastic memberis fixed to the hook section.
 4. A tube clamp apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the elastic member is disposed at a center of the hookportions which are provided parallel, and where in a material of theother hook portions is made of metal.
 5. A tube clamp apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the placement clamp section has anengagement member which engages the protruded portion of the elasticmember, and wherein a material of the engagement member is made ofresin.
 6. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theengagement member is a rotatable roller, and wherein the protrudedportion of the elastic member slides to contact a circumferentialsurface of the roller to be located to an engagement maintainingposition at which the protruded portion maintains engagement with theroller.
 7. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theelastic member is set such that reaction force caused at a time ofelastic deformation against external force is smaller than pressingforce of the hook portions due to the hook section when the movableclamp section presses the tube to a flat state and is larger than orequal to load force against the protruded portion of the engagementmember.
 8. A tube connecting apparatus which connects flexible tubeseach other, comprising: a holding unit having a placement clamp sectionat which the tube is placed, a movable clamp section which is movable ina direction of pressing the tube which is placed at the placement clampsection and in a direction of separating from the tube, and a hooksection which is set up at the movable clamp section and which engagesthe placement clamp section to maintain a pressing state of the movableclamp section against the tube; a cutting unit which cuts the tubes heldin a flat state by the holding unit; and a movement unit which moves theholding unit to change relatively positions of the tubes cut by thecutting unit such that end portions to be connected face each other,wherein the holding unit has a plurality of divided hook portions at thehook section, and wherein at least one of the hook portions has aprotruded portion which protrudes toward one side thereof than otherhook portions and is made of an elastic member which maintainsengagement with the placement clamp section.
 9. A tube connectingapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the holding unit has a firstholding section and a second holding section which are disposed along alongitudinal direction of the tubes placed at the placement clampsection, and wherein the cutting unit cuts the tubes between the firstholding section and the second holding section.
 10. A tube connectingapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movement unit moves at leastone of the first holding section and the second holding section in adirection of the longitudinal direction of the tubes placed at theplacement clamp section and in a direction orthogonal to the tubes. 11.A tube connecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the elasticmember is made of resin having a flexure property of bending so as tochange its self-shape according to external pressure.
 12. A tubeconnecting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the elastic memberis disposed at a center of the hook portions which are providedparallel, and where in a material of the other hook portions is made ofmetal.